How Australia Could End Up With a New Prime Minister

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process That Could Give Australia a New Prime Minister

CANBERRA, Australia—The process to decide whether Australia gets its fifth prime minister in five years is one with surprisingly few rules—and ample opportunity to veer in unpredictable directions.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is fighting to keep a grip on his office after disgruntled members of his Liberal Party said on Friday they would try to unseat him via a secret ballot next week. The motion, brought by backbench lawmaker Luke Simpkins, calls for Tuesday’s ballot to determine whether Mr. Abbott’s position should be declared...